Termon hold onto Donegal LGFA SFC crown with victory over Glenfin 

Termon have retained their Donegal LGFA SFC title with their ability to hit the net the decisive factor in an otherwise cagey affair in Ballybofey. 

Termon 2-5 Glenfin 0-7

But winning is all that matters in this fierce rivalry and a pair of second-half maximums in from the Burn Road girls helped secure a four-point win.

With Termon 1-4 to 0-6 up on the three-quarter hour mark a fortuitous second goal for the leaders finally tipped a set of scales that had remained delicately poised throughout. 

The first-half was tight and both teams could only muster three points apiece by the changeover. 

Ciara McGarvey floated over the first score of the contest from a free but a brilliant effort from play, by Glenfin’s own chief markswoman Karen Guthrie, quickly squared it up. 

Just minutes in and Guthrie’s battle with Emer Gallagher was already a fascinating watch. The latter was out in front twice in quick succession but tailed efforts just wide of the mark. 

Up the other side Termon were much more economic with their early opportunities as McGarvey notched her and her side’s second, again from a free from the hands. 

On 23 minutes Guthrie doubled her tally for the afternoon with her second free and matters were tied up once more. 

Two minutes out from the break and a Katy Herron free handed Glenfin the lead for the first time.

But a late pointed free from Jodie McFadden levelled it up for the third time and meant nothing split the teams at the changeover. 

After the restart usual suspects Guthrie and McGarvey (free) swapped points but with Herron landing her second free of the game, it was Glenfin that led 0-5 to 0-4 on 35 minutes. 

However, a big moment in this one arrived soon after when McGarvey’s sublime delivery from out wide brilliantly sourced Shannon McLaughlin and she blasted to the back of the Glenfin net. 

Abbie McGrnaghan found a response for Glenfin to narrow the gap back to one but Termon hit back through another McGarvey free as 1-5 led 0-6. 

Herron launched over another free for her side as the deficit was split in half as the contest entered its last ten minutes. 

Direct play from McGarvey, stopped illegally by Glenfin, earned herself the chance to widen the lead but she was uncharacteristically off cue.

Five minutes out from the end the decisive blow was landed when McGarvey’s speculative effort from out the park cruelly squeezed in through Sharon Conaghan’s fingers. To be fair to the Glenfin netminder, the sharp sun shining directly into her eyes had to have had an influence.

Regardless, it pushed Termon four clear at a critical juncture. Glenfin desperately went in search of a late goal but Termon easily sucked up that pressure to emerge victorious and, in the process, hold onto the Donna Dunnion Boyle Memorial Cup.

Termon scorers: Shannon McLaughlin 1-0; Ciara McGarvey 1-4,4f; Jodie McFadden 0-1; 

Glenfin scorers: Karen Guthrie 0-3,1f; Katy Herron 0-3,3f; Abbie McGranaghan 0-1; 

Termon: Roisin McCafferty; Rionnach Giles, Niamh Friel, Maria Carr; Niamh Bonner, Emer Gallagher, Aoibhe McDaid; Nicole McLaughlin, Chelsea Gorman; Lauren Gallagher, Jodie McFadden, Anna Gallagher; Shannon McLaughlin, Ciara McGarvey, Roisin Friel. 

Subs: Siobhan Cameron for Giles (20); Evelyn McGinley and Orlaa Corry for L Gallagher and A Gallagher (both ht); Victoria Kelly for A McDaid (59); Maeve Brady for C McGarvey (60+8).

Glenfin: Sharon Conaghan; Mary Ward, Ciara Ward/Doherty, Karen Ward; Brenda Carr, Anna Marie Brady, Lauren Martin; Katy Herron, Abbie McGranaghan; Jamie Lee McMahon, Katie Long, Kathy Ward; Danielle McGinley, Karen Guthrie, Anne Marie Logue. 

Subs: Caoimhe McGlynn for McMahon (47), Grainne Cullen for Martin (54), Aibhe Ward for D McGinley (57), 

Referee: Pat Barrett (Milford).